Ringer, Michigan State spoil unbeaten bid for Northwestern

The 19th-ranked Spartans forced three turnovers and Javon Ringer
ran for two touchdowns as Michigan State upended the 22nd-ranked
Wildcats, 37-20, on Saturday afternoon.

Michigan State has won six straight games after a
season-opening, 38-31 loss to California, and in the process has
become bowl eligible.

"It means a lot; it is definitely a big step for our program and
our team," Ringer said. "We see how things are falling into
place on how our season is going thus far.

"We aren't complacent; we aren't settling or relaxing at all
because we are bowl eligible. We know we have some big tests
left throughout the season."

Northwestern was off to a 5-0 start for the first time since
1962 after edging out close victories over Iowa and Ohio in its
last two games.

On Saturday, the Spartans (6-1, 3-0 Big Ten) converted their
turnovers into points. After Michigan State safety Danny
Fortener returned a pick 21 yards into Northwestern territory,
it took the offense just four plays to reach the end zone, as
Ringer dashed 13 yards to make it 17-0.

After C.J. Bacher threw his second interception midway through
the second quarter, Brian Hoyer found fullback Andrew Hawken for
a 7-yard score to make it 24-7.

"They were bringing a lot of guys up, so we had to take
advantage of it," Hoyer said. "That's how this offense is. We
came out, got hot quick, and we were able to move the ball. I
think what really helped us out were the turnovers. We had
great field position all day."

The Wildcats made it a two-possession game on Bacher's 6-yard
scoring strike to Rasheed Ward, but the Spartans answered right
back three minutes later. Once again, it was Ringer who
finished it, plowing in from 1 yard out to push the lead to
31-14.

"It was very frustrating," Northwestern running back Tyrrell
Sutton said. "In the Big Ten, you can't spot a team 17 points
and expect to win. We made some costly mistakes that they
capitalized on.

"You can't sleepwalk through the first quarter, first half and
expect to come out and play one half of football and win."

Ringer, the nation's top rusher, finished with 124 yards on 35
carries. The senior workhorse now has 1,112 yards and 14
touchdowns this season, leading the country in both categories.
Saturday's performance was his fifth 100-yard outing this year
after reaching the plateau seven times last season.

"My offensive line and I knew we had our work cut out for us,
and knew they would bring a lot of guys into the box," Ringer
said. "All the credit goes to my offensive line. They were
able to continue to produce and created the holes I needed to
keep moving the ball down the field."

Hoyer had a quiet but efficient showing, completing 14-of-20
passes for 169 yards and a pair of touchdown passes.

Northwestern (5-1, 1-1) piled up 459 yards of total offense,
surpassing its season average by nearly 100 yards, and converted
15-of-24 third-down attempts. Bacher finished 34-for-61 -
setting a new career high in pass attempts - for 283 yards,
while Sutton ran for 139 yards on 23 carries.

Michigan State, which had to hold off Iowa in a tough 16-13
victory last week, remained unbeaten in conference play but will
face its stiffest text next week against 11th-ranked Ohio State.

"Mentally we were prepared, and that was basically the focus. We
knew it would be a tough football game," Michigan State head
coach Mark Dantonio said. "We felt like what we had to do was
be able to respond to things with that force. We had to
mentally stay on top of things. Whatever happened, our offense
was going to have to respond and our special teams were going to
have to respond."

Northwestern, which was coming off its bye week but came back
with its sloppiest performance of the season, hosts Purdue next
week.